Sarah is a client at the center's Domestic Violence High Risk Team Network in Amesbury.

"I think the crisis center saved my life," said Sarah.

The death of Dorothy Cotter of Amesbury in 2002 at the hands of her husband inspired the Domestic Violence High Risk program, which flags potentially lethal cases, then acts fast and aggressively to contain them.

"Dorothy did all the right things. She had law enforcement involved, she had gone to the courts. After her murder, what this community came to realize was just because we had a piece of information didn't mean the courts had it or law enforcement had it," said Dubus.

The program focuses on teamwork among all the agencies, rating each abuser on a point system of violence. They share crucial information and let offenders know the law is watching.

"They have remedies at their fingertips, like dangerous hearings and GPS monitoring," said Dubus.

"Let's hold them accountable with better cases so the victim can stay home. Let the abusers look over their shoulder at what might be happening next," said Detective Robert Wile of the Amesbury police.

The team works to keep perpetrators behind bars and let victims know where they are at all times.Sarah got therapy and the help she needed to stay safe, including police presence when her ex-husband got out of jail.

"They drove by my house a couple of times a day. It gave me peace of mind," she said.

The proof is in the impressive results. Since the program began eight years ago, there has not been a single domestic homicide in the nine communities it serves. With every life saved, the team remembers Dorothy Cotter's death.

"The system let her down. We all have a part to play. You can always do more. She taught us that," said Wile.

The high-risk-team network has been recognized by the White House as a model in the fight against domestic violence homicide.